Carpet sweeper



M. u. MORGAN CARPET SWEEPER Filed Dec. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l @e9/wwe@ CARPET SWEEPER Filed Dec. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/f 9 j May 3129 @36 M. u. MORGAN CARPET SWEEPER Filed Dec. 17, 1934 3 Sheets--Sheekl 3 Illllllill Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to carpet sweepers. A feature of the present invention is the provision of transmission units readily removable from the carpet sweeper casing.

A further feature is an improvement in securing the top of the casing to the walls thereof.

A further improvement is the elimination of the wheel axles extending through the casing to provide a casing with substantially imperforate walls and, therefore, a substantially dust-proof sweeper.

In assembling the casing, the top is preferably first fitted to the end walls, and these elements, as a unit, then attached to the side Walls.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of readily detachable or removable traction units at the ends of the casing outside of and adjacent to the end walls. Each of these units includes a pair of spaced plates with two wheels resiliently mounted therebetween, each wheel on an entirely separate and independent short axle lying Wholly outside of the side wall of the casing. This construction eliminates the customary long axles extending through holes in the side walls and also greatly facilitates repairs, replacements and renewals.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken, of the improved carpet sweeper; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the sweeper; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Fig. 4, a sectional view along line 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a broken section along line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a plan view of the independent roller unit; Fig. '7, a vertical sectional view of the roller unit taken along line 'I of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a sectional view taken along line 8 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9, an end elevation of the roller unit.

Referring to the drawings, the improved sweeper comprises generally a casing A; a pivotally mounted handle B; a rotary sweeper brush C; and transmission units D readily detachable from the casing A.

The casing, indicated in general by A, is preferably constructed of wood with a metal top 58 and comprises a pair of end walls II, II, and side walls I6, Ill. Along the upper edges of the inner sides of the side walls I0 are offset portions or rabbets I 2. Vertical grooves I3 extend across the inner faces of the walls Il) an inch or two from the ends of the same. Horizontal slots I4 are formed on the inner sides of the projecting ends or extensions of the walls I0 from the grooves I3 to the ends of the members. The end walls II are notched, as indicated by II, at their lower edges to accommodate the ends of the shaft C of the rotary brush C and have longitudinal grooves I6 on their inner sides adjacent the upper edges. The vertical edgesv of the end walls II are adapted to be inserted in the grooves I3.

The top or cover 50 is preferably stamped from sheet metal and is equipped at its4 side edges with depending flanges I'I and along each end edge with an offset lip I5 forming a shoulder I5a. The cover is secured to the casing by placing the lips I5 in the grooves I6 of the end walls, the shoulders I5a bearing along the inner sides of said end walls and fitting the ends of the end walls II into the vertical grooves I3 in the wallsv I0 until the depending flanges II are disposed in the rabbets I2. The end edges may be retained in said grooves in any suitable way, for example, by means of screws I8. Thus, a strong durable sweeper casing may be secured without employing nails or screws to secure the cover in place. 'Ihe shoulders I5 are of such height as to bring the upper surface of the top 50 flush with the upper edges of the end walls Il when the top is in place. (See Fig. 5).

The dust pans I9 are of conventional construction and are adapted to be pivotally displaced from their'operative closed positionv to an accessible dust-removing position by arms 20 extending through the cover.

Four iioor wheels 2I are freely rotatable on short shafts 22 resiliently mounted in the transmission units D. The units D comprise spaced plates 23 and 24 preferably formed of sheet metal. The plate members 23 and 24 may be spaced from and secured to each other by strips 25 and 26, respeotively, riveted to the plates and having rightangled portions 21 and 28 at each end, adapted to face each other and form the narrow end walls of the transmission unit. The plates 23 and 24 are attached to the strips 25 and 26 by rivets 23a.

The shafts 22 are slidably mounted in upwardly and inwardly inclined slots 29 in the plate and strip members. The shafts are yieldingly urged downwardly in the slots by double pressure springs 36, the ends of the springs engaging members or links 3| bearing downwardly on the shafts 22. The links 3I have slots 3|a embracing the shafts 22. The middle portions of the springs bear against the studs 32 mounted on the plates 23 and 24. The ends of the shafts 22 are flattened and the slots 3 l3L embrace these attened ends and are narrow enough to prevent rotation of such flattened ends of the shafts in such slots. Slots 29 are large enough to permit slight rotation of the ends of the axles therein.

'I'he rotary brush C of conventional construction isjournaled in the transmission devices and its shaft C extends through the notches lla in the end walls Il and suitable notches 33 in the plates 24. Friction discs 34, disposed within the units E, are mounted on the ends of the brush shaft C and are adapted to frictionally engage the wheels 2|.

The handle B is provided with a bail 35 having turned-in ends housed in apertures 36 centrally disposed in the plates 24. The plates 24 above the apertures 36 have spaced outwardly projecting corrugations 31 to receive the ends of the bails 35 therebetween and hold the handle in upright position when the sweeper is not in use.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the sweeper casing A and the sweeper transmission `units D are fabricated separately and the transmission units are then detachably secured to the frame by inserting the ends of the transmission units in the horizontal slots I4 in the projecting ends of the side walls l0. The units may be retained by screws 38 entering the threaded holes 388L in the members 21 and 28. The handle bails may then be inserted in their apertures. A projecting cord 39 equipped with corner buffers 40 surrounds the entire assembly.

In operation, the handle is moved from its upright position. Forward movement of the sweeperand slight pressure on the handle brings the friction discs 34 into driving engagement with the floor wheels 2|. Increased pressure on the handle raises the wheels and increases the driving force of the brush and brings it into closer contact with the carpet. The slots 29 engage the ends of the axles and since such slots are upwardly and inwardly inclined, upwaird movement of the axles therein will bring the wheels closer together and cause increased friction with the friction discs 34.

My improved sweeper tends to avoid wobbly wheels, keeps the brush in even contact with the carpet and is substantially dust-proof, since it has fewer apertures in its casing than the sweepers of the art.

While I have shown and described certain ernbodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A transmission unit for a carpet sweeper, comprising: spaced plates with two pairs of oppositely arranged upwardly and inwardly inclined slots; a short shaft with its ends slidably mounted in each pair of said slots; a pair of floor wheels between said plates and journaled on said shafts; a brush driving disc between said wheels and in frictional engagement therewith, said frictional engagement adapted to be increased by upward movement of said shafts in said slots due to said upward and inward inclination of said slots; and spring means yieldingly urging said shafts downwardly.

2. A transmission unit for a carpet sweeper,

comprising: spaced plates with two pairs of oppositely arranged upwardly and inwardly inclined slots; a short shaft with its ends slidably mounted in each pair of said slots; a pair of floor wheels between said plates and journaled on said shafts;

a brush driving disc between said wheels and in frictional engagement therewith, said frictional engagement adapted to be increased by upward movement of said shafts in said slots due to said upward and inward inclination of said slots; and

spring means yieldingly urging said shafts downwardly, said spring means operating on each end of each shaft.

3. A transmission unit for a carpet sweeper, comprising: spaced plates with two pairs of oppositely arranged upwardly and inwardly inclined slots; a short shaft with its ends slidably mounted in each pair of said slots; a pair of floor wheels between said plates and journaled on said shafts; a brush driving disc between said wheels and in frictional engagement therewith, said frictional engagement adapted to be increased by upward movement of said shafts in said slots due to said upward and inward inclination of said slots; a link non-rotatably carried by each end of each shaft; and spring means operating through said links to yieldingly urge said shafts downwardly,

MARCELLA U. MORGAN. 

